For months, artist Tim Yanke grappled with how to make his work stand out.

After learning he had been selected to create the official artwork for the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C., he wanted to make something that would be untraditional. It couldn’t just be a painting with a cherry tree and the Washington Monument, he thought.

It took eight months to plan and execute, but Yanke’s vision was unveiled Thursday in Georgetown.

While it does feature cherry blossoms and the Washington Monument, the final piece also includes butterflies to represent the 13 colonies and hidden lyrics from songs such as “God Bless America,” which inspired Yanke to feature the words “from sea to shining sea.”

Yanke said the butterflies serve as “an important symbolism, especially in Native Americ

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